Electric switch.



T. M. SMITH.

BLEGTRIO SWITCH. APPLIGA-I'ION FILED DO.18, 1907.

910,239, Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

n\ i, 7 9 l7 INVENTOI? momvsu THOMAS M. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELEGTBIG SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ian. 19, 1909'.

Application flied December 18, 1907. Serial No. 407,022;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M; SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, ofwhieh the following is a specification, reference being had 'to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereot, in which similar letters 0 reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to electric switches for employment in the industrial applies tion of electricity, the device being applicable for use in conjunction with sockets for electric lamps, chandeliers, fans and various other electrically operated devices.

' The object of the invention is to provide a safe, accurate, reliable and economical electric switch which can be alternately caused to instantlynnd positively make and break electrical connections by means of on actuating pull-cord or chain successively pulled in one general direction.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification Figure l, is a vertical sectional elevation illustrating the appllcation of my invention to an clcctric lamp socket, the section being taken on tho line '11, of Fig- 2; Fig. 2, a sectional plan view taken on the line 22, of Fig. 1, and showing the parts of the device in position required when the current is cut oll; Fig. 3,

is a similar View showing the several parts of the device in position for conducting the current; Fig. i, is a vertical sectional clove"- tion illustrating some details of the invention, and drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5, is a-vertical sectional elevation. taken on the line 5- 5. of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow 1; Fig. 6, is a plan view of a modified form of conducting bow,

' and Fig. 7, is a side elevation thereof,

In the drawings A indicates a resilient inc-- tallic bow composed ol good conductnw' mnterial. This bow cnibodics an osci arm 1, a spring 23, and a iixcd [)uSQdllClhbL"? 3. The sprin' may embody a coil, as B, or a ll1- gle curve part C, shown by Figs. 6 and 7, of lln drawings, The several members of the bow A. are 'pIQfG/KitblyfOlIIlGtlilfltGgZj'l'zLl, hut theoscillating arm, the base-member and the actilating spring may be formed separately;

. sling 1 each other so thet the completed bow forms a continuous conductor of electricity having a fixed member and a normally divergent arm adapted for universal oscillating move ment. 'l-he said oscillating arm is provided nesr its free end with a loop 1, containing a cylindrical insulator 5, to engage a metallic hook is, of a pull cord or chain K, as will be hereinafter described. The how A. is mount.- ed within a porcelain cylinder D, having the recess d, to admit of free movement of the arm 1; the member 3, being held within a channel 6, formed in the bottom wall 7 of theporcelain cylinder D, and secured by means of the metallic bolt E, and nut e,. the same comprising a contact-post for making electrical connection with the lamp, part of which. is shown by the dotted lines L, Fig. 1, of the drawings. Fitting snugly Within a squared opening leading through the upper wall 8, of the orcelain cylinder D, is a me tallic block G, having a threaded spindle g, in pivotal engagement therewith, which ex. tends through the wall 8, and is threaded through a iixcd metallic, late 9', whereby said block is susceptible 0% vertical adjustwent, a jam nut 10, is also provided for lockiug the parts in required relative arrangement, the said parts acting in conjunction to form a binding post for connection with a l'i-cdwirc, as H. The binding-post M, for col'nimrtion with the other wire F, leads through the porcelain and. is in electrical connection with the metallic socket J, whereby a circuit may be maintained with the lamp in the usual manner. The said block G, is provided in its under surface with a groove 3', which is approximately the shape of an inverted c, and is adapted for contact with the free end of the arm 1, of the conducting-bow A, to conduct a current from the upper binding-post and maintain elec trical connection with a lamp or other electrical device. As a means for operating the arm .I. of the conducting-bow a cord. chain or analogous agent K, is attnchcd thereto, by means of a hook it, which passes through the insulatorh; said. cord is led downwardly at an angle, thence 1 laterally through an opening 1.1, formed in one side wall of the porcelain cylinder D.

In the end ,Wall of the porcelain cylinder -D, is formed a gnidewey lor the free end of with an upwardly and obliquely directed channel '13, the latter named channel termi nates'directly beneath the V-shaped groove 7', of-the block G, and thence communicates with a recess 1 which leads into. the channel 12, whereb an endless channel of irregular contour is ormed for guidance of the arm 1',

"of the conducting-bow A. The upwardly extended part 15, 14','end I venting entry of ocated between the recess hannel' 12, acts as a means for prethe arm 1, into the recess -14, when said arm is being pulled in a down- .ward direction as will be hereinafter de scribed. k

In the example of my mvention shown in 1 the drawings, the porcelain cylinder 1), has

the usualmetallic casing I, and screw socket J, for engagement with a lamp or other clcc trically operated appliance. The bow of resilient material is so formed that its arm 1, is normally extended to occupy the position illustrated by Figs. ,1 .and 2, of the drawings, the free end of'the arm being near the end of I its normal lateral swing, but the spring being orally under tension'to maintain said arm in position pressed upwardly, and in which position the current is cut off owing to the fact that said end-contacts with the porcelain which acts as an insulator. To make electrical connection a pull on the chain K, carries the free end of the arm 1, downwardly and latafainst the porcelainpart 15, then it moves ownwardly through-'thechannel 12,

i until i passes the point-.16; whereupon on releasing the cord the spr' arm 1, upwardly through t B will force the e groove of the block G, and makes electrical connection I therewith, whereby the current may be carried through the bow to complete the ourrent, between the lamp and the feed-wires II and F. To break the electrical connection it is simply necessary to a ain pull thexcord in the same direction until the free end of the arm 1', passes the point 17, whereupon on releasing the cord the arm will automatically and very rapidly retract and take its initial osition wit eectrical connection broken.

y reason of the fact that the pull-cordor chain worked by two ositive mdepei fdent ulls in the same directlon alternately makes breaks electrical connection, the device,

j' is in constant movement of jipsition for the next re uired e switch, whereby it a ways acts positively either to make or break conindefinite period. The positive and very tact and is susceptible of successful use for an rapid removal of the free end of the arm 1,

from contact with'the block G, by a short ,1; downward and then simultaneous lateral and ve quick'upward movement of said arm .@;su denly breaks the current and prevents [formation of an arc, while at the same time good electrical connection is maintained when the current 18 on because at that time th s spring isat considerable tension. owing to the low position of the contact point of the block G, relative to the contact point of the porcelain when the arm 1 .is at its extended position.

Having thus described my invention, what I I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s:

1. In an electric switch, the combination with a block of non-conducting material, having an interior chamber, and having a guiding groove in the inner surface of 'one of the walls of said chamber, and an electric conductor forming a part of one of the wallf of said groove, of a resilient bow of conducting material, fastened by one end to a con ductor within said chamber, and having its other end arranged to move in said groove and in connection with said first named condoctor, to close and break an electric current.

2. In an electric switch, the combination with a block of non-conducting material, having an interior chamber, and having a guiding groove in the interior surface of one of the walls of said chamber, and an adjustable conductor forming a part of one of the walls of said groove, of a resilient bow of conducting material, comprising two divergent members fastened by one end in said chamber, to a stationary conductor, and havin its other end arranged to move in sai groove, and in connection with said adjustable conductor to close and break an electric circuit.

3. In an electric switch, the combination the frec end of the said bow arranged to move in said groove and in connection with said adjustable conduc'torto close and break an electric current.

4. Inan electric switch, the combination with a block of non-condixctin material having an interior chamber, ant having a guiding groove in the inner surface of one of the walls ofsaid chamber, an adjustable conductor extending both within and without said chamber and formin a part ofone of the walls of said groove. an means for ad-- justably holding saidconductor, of a stationary conductor extending both and without said chamber, meansfor fastening said stationary conductor j -ai resilient bow of conductin material comprising-two verging mem Jers with an interposedgspring,

said how having 'one"'end'ifastenedfwithin.

silence said chamber to said stationery conductor,

and having itsfree end arranged to move in said groove, and in connection with said adjustable conductor to close and break an electric current 5. In. an electric switch, the combination with a block of non-conducting material, having an interior chamber, and having a guiding groove in the inner surface of one of the walls of said chamber, an adjpsteble' conductor extending both Within and without said chamber and forming n pairt'of one of the Wallsof said groove, and means for adjustebly holding said conductor, of a stationary conductor extending Within and Without said chamber, means for holding said sta-" tionery conductor in fixed position, a resilient bow of conducting material comprising two extending members with on interposed spring, one end of said bow being fastened in said chamber to said stationary conductor and the other end of said bow beingarranged to move in said move, and in connection with said adjusts 1e conductor to close and break on electric current, and means for moving the free end of said resilient bow in said groove for holding it in electrical connection with said adjustable conductor, and

for detaching it therefrom.

In testimony that, I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in resence of two witnesses, this 26th day of Novenl er 1907.

I THOMAS M. SMITH.

Witnesses:

M. S. Dow, THos. O. BENNETT. 

